expectations

Group Activities

The course will have numerous group learning activities that are done in class.  These activities are intended to help you understand prerequisite material you will need for MATD 0370 or review concepts you have already learned in MATD 0370. 

Why use group activities in this class?

Because students process information in different ways and at different rates, group learning can provide students with time to really think about the question, form better connections between concepts, and practice writing out meaningful responses.   In-class activities allow students to practice these skills before they are expected to do it on their own on an assignment.  The more effort and thought you put into the activities, the more you will learn and be prepared for what is expected on assignments and assessments.

How does working together help you learn Math?

Working together exposes you to other ideas you may not have considered.  Also, it gives you an opportunity to pose questions to other students and to the instructor.  Responding to questions from other students allows you an opportunity to express your explanations and justifications and check your own understanding of the content.  Your instructor is always available to help clarify as you are working through the activities, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.    

Grades

MATD 0370 Grade Components

Major Proctored Assessments: 80%

Homework: 10%

Quizzes: 5%

Other: 5%

* A minimum score of 60% on the Comprehensive Departmental Final is required in order to earn a C in MATD 0370.

NCBM 0270 Grade Components

Quizzes and Group Work/Participation: 30%

Exit Exam: 50%

Final Exam Portfolio: 20%

* A minimum score of 70% on the Exit Exam is required in order to earn a C in NCBM 0270.

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

Where can I find my grades?

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

What will we do in this class?

Students are allowed to use a non-graphing scientific calculator in this course when needed after Chapter 1 (including exams), except for the 0270 Exit Exam.

Major Proctored Assessments: Four chapter exams and a Final Exam will be given in class per the calendar. The NCBM 0270 Exit Exam will be given the 2nd to last week of class. There will be no make-up or retakes of chapter exams or the final exam. Prior to starting the exam your testing environment and materials will be reviewed/approved by the instructor, before you are given permission to begin the exam. During the exam time all students will be monitored for appropriate testing procedures. Working webcam and microphone must be working to connect to Zoom for proctoring and computer with lockdown browser to view exam. For other major proctored exams ONLY non-graphing calculators are allowed. NO CALCULATORS are allowed on the NCBM Exit Exam.   

Homework: There will be a combination of online homework in MyLab submitted online and written homework turned in during class. Late homework will be impacted by late penalties of 5% off for each day late of problems not completed. You have 3 attempts for each homework problem.

Quizzes: You will take quizzes in MyLab Math.  You will have 1 attempt at each quiz. Late quizzes will be marked 10% off for each day late.

Group Work and Participation: You are going to interact with each other quite a bit and talk to each other about math. There will be group activities every day in class.  You are expected to be an active participant and contribute to the discussion of the problems on the group activities.  Though you will be working with other students, everyone will record the work on their own paper.  These notes will make up your participation grade in this course. 

I know that some of you do not like to talk in class and others of you like to talk a lot. So, we will follow a couple of easy rules. We give everyone a chance to talk. We respond to whatever anyone says with respect. We are concerned here about concepts that will help you succeed in your college-level math courses and ultimately achieve your academic goals. You are all in the same boat; I expect that students in this class will support each other and be respectful when working together.

Final Exam Portfolio: During the last two weeks of this course, we will prepare for the MATD 0370 final exam.  You will keep a portfolio of all of your preparation for the final for this portion of your NCBM 0270 grade.

What happens if I miss something?

Late Work Policy: Homework will be allowed late for 5% off for each day late. Quizzes will be allowed late for 10% off for each day late.

Missed Major Proctored Assessment Policy: There are no make-ups or retakes for exams. However, your final exam grade can be used a second time to replace a missing or lower exam grade.

Attendance: Attendance is required in this course.  Being more than 10 minutes late will count as an absence.  Cutting out early without prior notification will count as an absence.  Leaving more than 10 minutes early, even with prior notification, will count as an absence. Students who miss 4 or more classes may be withdrawn without warning. TSI-mandated students who have excessive absences will be withdrawn.  Students who are withdrawn from NCBM 0270 because of excessive absences will also be withdrawn from MATD 0370. 

Class Participation Expectations: It is important to attend class so that you can reach your long-term math goals, including being successful in this class. Students are required to be present in the classroom for lectures, class discussions, assignments, and group work. Failure to participate during class time will result in a group work and/or participation grade penalty. If your compliance with any course policies is repeatedly unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw you from the class.

Textbook: Elementary Algebra: Concepts and Applications, 10th Edition by Bittinger, Ellenbogen, & Johnson. Pearson Publishing (MyLab software) ISBN: 9780134772370

Course Content

Course Description

Credit Hours: 5, Contact Hours: 6

MATD 0370 – Elementary Algebra (3-4-0). A course designed to develop the skills and understanding contained in the first year of secondary school algebra. Topics include review of operations on real numbers, graphing linear equations, solving linear and quadratic equations, solving systems of linear equations, operations on polynomials including division of polynomials, use of negative exponents, operations using scientific notation, factoring, and applications.

NCBM 0270 – Algebra Foundations (2-2-0). A course designed to develop basic algebra skills. The course is preparation and support for learning more advanced algebra skills. Content includes simplifying numerical and variable expressions involving rational numbers, solving equations, and relating algebra concepts to real-world situations. This course is not for college-level credit.

Course Objectives

The following objectives are listed in a sequence ranging from the simple to the more complex. As such, this document should not be viewed as a chronological guide to the course, although some elements naturally will precede others. These elements should be viewed as mastery goals which will be reinforced whenever possible throughout the course.

Overall objectives:

1. Students will feel a sense of accomplishment in their increasing ability to use mathematics to solve problems of interest to them or of use in their chosen fields. Students will attain more positive attitudes based on increasing confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics.
2. Students will learn to understand material using standard mathematical terminology and notation when presented either verbally or in writing.
3. Students will improve their skills in describing what they are doing as they solve problems using standard mathematical terminology and notation.

MATD 0370 Concepts and Skills:

1. Description and classification of whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers using sets and the operations among them:
   1. identify and use properties of real numbers
   2. simplify expressions involving real numbers
   3. evaluate numerical expressions with integral exponents
2. Polynomials:
   1. distinguish between expressions that are polynomials and expressions that are not
   2. classify polynomials in one variable by degree and number of terms
   3. simplify polynomials
   4. add, subtract, multiply (including the distributive law), and divide polynomials (including division by monomials, but excluding long division)
   5. factor polynomials in one or more variables (including factoring out the greatest common factor, factoring by grouping, factoring trinomials in which the leading coefficient is one, factoring trinomials in which the leading coefficient is not one, and factoring the difference of two squares)
   6. understand and use the exponent laws involving integer exponents
   7. convert numbers into and out of scientific notation and perform multiplication and division with numbers written in scientific notation
3. Solve linear equations in one variable involving integral, decimal, and fractional coefficients and solutions
4. Solve and graph linear inequalities
5. Application problems:
   1. write and evaluate linear expressions from verbal descriptions
   2. solve application problems which lead to one of the following types of equations: linear equations in one variable, systems of two linear equations in two variables, quadratic equations, and rational equations with monomial numerators and denominators)
   3. solve literal equations for a specified variable using addition and multiplication principles
   4. use given data to estimate values and to evaluate geometric and other formulas
   5. solve problems involving the Pythagorean theorem, similar triangles, and proportions
6. Linear equations in two variables:
   1. identify the relationship between the solution of a linear equation in two variables and its graph on the Cartesian plane
   2. understand and use the concepts of slope and intercept
   3. determine slope when two data points are given
   4. graph a line given either two points on the line or one point on the line and the slope of the line
   5. write an equation of a line given one point on the line and the slope of the line, or two points on the line
   6. identify lines given in standard, point-slope, or slope-intercept forms and sketch their graphs
   7. solve systems of linear equations
7. Quadratic equations:
   1. find solutions to quadratic equations using the technique of factoring and using the principle of square roots
   2. recognize a need to use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations and solve quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula when some simplification of square roots is needed
8. Description and classification of irrational numbers:
   1. simplify radical expressions
   2. use decimal approximations for radical expressions
9. Rational expressions:
   1. determine for which value(s) of the variable a rational expression is undefined
   2. simplify rational expressions containing monomials, binomials, and trinomials
   3. multiply and divide rational expressions containing monomials, binomials, and trinomials
   4. add and subtract rational expressions with like denominators and rational expressions with unlike denominators (only monomials and binomials that do not require factoring)
10. Geometry:
    1. understand the difference between perimeter and area and be able to use formulas for these appropriately
    2. solve application problems involving angles and polygons

NCBM 0270 Concepts and Skills:

1. Concepts and skills associated with whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals. 
   1. round numbers and use rounding to estimate values 
   2. perform the four basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) 
   3. identify the order relation between two whole numbers 
   4. simplify exponential expressions with whole number exponents
   5. find the square root of perfect squares and estimate irrational square roots to one or two decimal places
   6. use the order of operations to simplify expressions involving whole numbers, whole number exponents, square roots of perfect squares, grouping symbols, and the four basic arithmetic operations 
2. Concepts and skills associated with fractions 
   1. simplify fractions to lowest terms 
   2. convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions 
   3. convert between fractions and decimals 
3. Concepts and skills involving expressions and equations in one variable 
   1. Simplify numerical and variable expressions using distributive properties, order of operations, and combining like terms.
   2. Solve linear equations in one variable involving integers, decimals and fractions.
4. Concepts and skills involving graphing 
   1. interpret graphs and analyze data 
   2. plot points given coordinates & tables

MATD 0370 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Perform operations involving integers, fractions, decimals, percents, signed exponents, scientific   notation, ratios and proportions.
2. Solve problems involving geometric figures including perimeter, area, similarity, and the Pythagorean Theorem. Analyze, interpret, and solve problems from line graphs, bar graphs, pictographs, and pie charts.
3. Use appropriate forms of linear equations to identify slope, intercepts, and to graph lines. Find linear equations from given points and graphs of lines. Find solutions to systems of two equations by graphing.
4. Solve applied problems by defining variables, writing equation(s), solving equation(s), and writing an answer to the question in context.   Problems requiring quadratic equations are included as well as problems requiring single linear equations and systems of linear equations. 
5. Factor and perform operations to combine and/or simplify expressions and solve equations including numerical, some polynomial, and some rational expressions and equations.  Simplify some radical expressions.
6. Use mathematical language, symbols, and notation to communicate mathematical concepts, demonstrate reasoning, and solve problems.

NCBM 0270 Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Simplify numerical and variable expressions involving rational numbers. 
2. Solve equations.
3. Relate algebra concepts to real-world situations.